Members of the U.S. Air Force (USAF) took part in the fifth edition of Brazilian Air Force- (FAB) sponsored Joint Exercise (EXCON) Tápio 2022. The exercise was carried out at Campo Grande Air Base (BACG), in Mato Grosso do Sul state, August 16-September 3.
EXCON Tápio gathered more than 900 military personnel from the Brazilian Army (EB), Brazilian Navy (MB) and the FAB, including some 100 members of the U.S. Air National Guard. This was the second consecutive year that the United States participated in the event.
Some 30 aircraft flew more than 890 hours, including four U.S. aircraft: three HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters — brought in two Boeing C-17 Globemaster — and one HC-130J Combat King II. The aircraft carried out attack missions, missions with night vision goggles, aerospace reconnaissance, airborne infiltration, combat search and rescue, air refueling, close air support, parachute and airdrop, laser-guided bombing, and aeromedical evacuation, among others.
According to the FAB Air Force Agency, the training aimed to improve the doctrinal development of joint tactics, in addition to the technical training of military units of the FAB, MB, and EB Preparatory Command, and of foreign counterparts, such as the USAF.
The U.S. Air National Guard from Oregon, Idaho, and Maryland also contributed their expertise to EXCON Tápio, bringing air force asset employment capabilities in an irregular warfare environment. “This exchange allows for a doctrinal evolution of FAB through TTPs [Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures] of an armed force that is constantly proving itself in the global scene against this type of threat,” the FAB Air Force Agency statement said.